Valley of the Fallen
Valley of the Fallen
4.5
Points of Interest & LandmarksMonuments & Statues
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
About
The Valley of the Fallen is a Spanish monumental complex built between 1940 and 1958 and located in the valley of Cuelgamuros, in the municipality of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, in the Community of Madrid. It is located in the Sierra de Guadarrama, 9.5 km north of the monastery of El Escorial.
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4.5
1,694 reviews
Excellent
1,025
Very good
403
Average
162
Poor
43
Terrible
61
Illiterati
St. George, UT32 contributions
Nov 2019
I am glad we went here. I read up on the history and shared with my family as we approached. Many members of my family were ready to get out of there after a while, with the heaviness taking its toll -- whether this is from the events and symbolism bearing a darkness, just a trick of the mind from the knowledge making you think you are feeling something, or the massive, dark, oppressive architecture and art achieving its affect. We were all glad we went, however, as the history seems important to study, and the architecture was indeed awesome (awesome in its traditional meaning) both inside and outside, where the cross being toyed with by the mist was mystic.
Written 10 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kaylee
Paris, France591 contributions
Apr 2021 • Friends
Very impressive location and monument, definitely worth a visit. Entrance was free when we visited on a Sunday afternoon as europeans. Unfortunately the little tram was closed because of covid.
Make sure you enter inside the church as its very different from any other church you’ll ever see.
Make sure you enter inside the church as its very different from any other church you’ll ever see.
Written 19 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thornton C
57 contributions
Oct 2020
With a weekend off from work in Madrid, I rented a car and drove the 28 miles out to the Valley of the Fallen. If you can enjoy the construction of the underground cathedral despite its having been built by workers forced by Franco to build the enormous structure, it is quite a phenomenal site. Many years after my visit in 1969, I am surprised to find no review mentioning, much less complaining about, the construction's boasting about its size. In the center aisle, far from the altar you can spot brass lines and measurements embedded in the stone floor. There is one at each of the points comparing that point to the length of the largest above-ground cathedrals. Many consider it improper bragging about the size of the room you are in, but it does provide a good ideas of how large the carved space in which you are standing really is. The entire construction is incredible. Don't focus on all of the elegant carving that looms far above you and miss examining the distance indications at you feet.
Written 19 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ogi0
Sofia, Bulgaria22,826 contributions
May 2021
A huge monumental complex built by Franco after the Second World War. I am from Eastern Europe, but I have not seen such monumental buildings. It consists of an abbey and a huge stone cross built by prisoners. Below the cross is a huge cathedral dug into the mountain. It can be reached by car, as the entrance is a few kilometers from the Cross.
The entire complex is located a few kilometers from the El Escorial Monastery, and admission is free for EU citizens.
There were no people during our visit, and the hotel area near the cross and the road to the cross itself were closed.
The entire complex is located a few kilometers from the El Escorial Monastery, and admission is free for EU citizens.
There were no people during our visit, and the hotel area near the cross and the road to the cross itself were closed.
Written 9 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Laxey Girl
United Kingdom162 contributions
Jan 2022
It was stunning. We took a picnic and sat on the steps to admire the views. Inside it was amazing. It's history is clearly difficult to reconcile but it was built and would be equally difficult to pretend that it hadn't been built.
I think you could spend day's discovering and walking through the spectaular countryside but we just had the afternoon. So went inside and round to the monastery.
Well worth a visit. Check whether the cafe is open and prepare accordingly.
I think you could spend day's discovering and walking through the spectaular countryside but we just had the afternoon. So went inside and round to the monastery.
Well worth a visit. Check whether the cafe is open and prepare accordingly.
Written 3 February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Quill2005
Ocala, FL266 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
impressive engineering feat to have built this large monument where thousands are buried, victims of the Spanish Civil War of the 1930s. The monumental cross atop is quite something, very moving. This monument, containing a large church inside a mountain, is located in the mountains outside of Madrid. You can easily visit the Valley of the Fallen on a tour combined with the nearby El Escorial monastery, a trip well worth it. Both are very different places, but should not be missed if possible, as both are important monuments connected to Spanish history.
Written 10 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robert Knauer
Vancouver, WA116 contributions
May 2019
While visiting Madrid, we took a day and visited the Valley of the Fallen and El Escorial. We were overwhelmed with the size of the cross at the Valley of the Fallen. it is nearly 500 tall and can be see for miles. A visit to the Basilica that was cut from the side of the mountain below the cross was equally awe inspiring. While the history associated with General Francisco Franco, has not been kind to him and his deeds were not kind, the Valley of the Fallen, that he oversaw is very impressive. We visited the Basilica in May of 2019 and Franco's body was still entombed there. His body was moved to Madrid in October, 2019.
Written 19 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
wasabadger
Surrey, England220 contributions
May 2022 • Couples
Visited on a weekday in May and had the place almost to ourselves. Atmospheric place. Silent outside apart from a lonely cuckoo. Inside the underground basilica the acoustics were incredible, the granite angels massive, powerful and awful. No question that this place is all about death. The sheer scale of the effort to create this huge space underground using forced labour was depressing. But very glad we came. This place will stay with me for a long time. Highly recommended.
Written 13 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Guillermo
Philippines1,187 contributions
Jul 2024 • Family
For me, it was a long drive from Madrid, but the trip was absolutely worth it. Nestled in the Rocky Mountains is a large cavernous tunnel, a resting place dedicated to honoring the fallen. Despite the scorching summer heat outside, the interior was cool and serene. I found myself mesmerized by the profound silence beneath the mountain. Although I felt a bit scared initially, the atmosphere soon became heavenly, safe, and refreshing.
I can't help but marvel at how this almost surreal catacomb of worship was constructed. It's important to note that you'll need to bring your own water, as there aren’t any food stalls nearby. Overall, it’s a journey worth taking, and I highly recommend this place to everyone!
I can't help but marvel at how this almost surreal catacomb of worship was constructed. It's important to note that you'll need to bring your own water, as there aren’t any food stalls nearby. Overall, it’s a journey worth taking, and I highly recommend this place to everyone!
Written 20 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bryuzga
Moscow, Russia1,380 contributions
Jan 2020
Beautiful, solemn and tragic place.
Magnificent structure. Huge basilica cut inside a mountain. An attempt at reunification of the Civil War victims and memories.
It is to Spanish people to decide whether it is a success or not.
For a foreigner it is really a magnificent monument.
Magnificent structure. Huge basilica cut inside a mountain. An attempt at reunification of the Civil War victims and memories.
It is to Spanish people to decide whether it is a success or not.
For a foreigner it is really a magnificent monument.
Written 7 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, I hope to visit the Valley of the Fallen next week (September 2023). Is the daily bus service from El Escorial still running to the Basilica? If so, at what time does it depart from El Escorial?
Written 12 September 2023
Como llegar desde madrid centro hasta El Valle de los caídos ???
Written 6 March 2020
Hay un tren ligero que sale de Atocha y para en San Lorenzo del Escorial.Desde allí la única opción es el taxi pues la línea de autobús no es fiable.
Desgraciadamente estos días con el tema del coronavirus todos los edificios que pertenecen a Patrimonio Nacional están cerrados , entre ellos El Valle delos Caídos.
Written 13 March 2020
el domingo día 13 de octubre tengo entradas para las 10:00 quiero saber cuanto se tarda en subir desde la M-600 hasta el monumento por el tema de las colas
Written 7 October 2019
En general hay colas de hasta dos kilómetros a partir de las 10 de la mañana ,que es cuando se abre El Valle .
No hay más remedio que tener paciencia.
Written 8 October 2019
Estando en San Lorenzo del Escorial hay algún modo de transporte (taxi, Uber, cabify, bus, etc...) para ir al valle de los caídos?
Written 27 September 2019
Puedes acercarte al Valle de los Caídos en vehículo particular o en transporte público (Autobuses Herranz, Tlf.: 91.896.90.28).
La línea 664 de Autobuses Herranz deja y recoge a la puerta del recinto, pero desde aquí no existe otro medio de transporte público para llegar al monumento (6 kilómetros de caminata con pendiente ascendente).
El recorrido de la línea 664 va desde el intercambiador de Moncloa (Isla 1, dársena 11) en Madrid hasta San Lorenzo del Escorial (vía Guadarrama). En días laborables, de lunes a viernes, son bastante frecuentes.
Hay otro autobús que sale de todos los días del año desde la estación de autobuses de San Lorenzo de El Escorial a las 15:15 y que sube hasta el monumento (Basílica y Hospedería). Luego regresa a San Lorenzo del Escorial haciendo parada en la Hospedería y la Basílica. Para llegar a San Lorenzo del Escorial se puede tomar la línea 664 o la línea 661.
Written 29 September 2019
How to get up to the hills that allows people to catch an overall view of the Valley of Fallen?
Written 26 September 2019
We were driven by Ricardo of Guidecar. He was familiar with the best views.
Written 6 January 2020
Me gustaría comprar, las entradas con antelación para el escorial y valle de los caídos. ¿donde me aconsejais que las compre? es que miro en diferentes páginas y hay una gran diferencia de precios
Written 11 September 2019
Buenos días, nosotros las adquirimos directamente en el Palacio del Escorial con guía, pues merece la pena para entender y conocerlo mejor,sé que hay distintas empresas que las gestionan. Y respecto al Valle de los Caídos pues igual,lo único que tuvimos la suerte que la visita los jueves por la tarde a partir de las 15.00 hasta las 18'00 es gratuita.
Si bien es cierto que con el nuevo horario la visita gratuita hasta septiembre incluye miércoles y jueves de 15.00 a 18.00 (abril a septiembre).
Espero haberte respondido a tu pregunta. Cualquier duda, puedes volver a escribirme. Un saludo
Written 15 September 2019
Noah Hayden
New York City, New York
Is there any advantage to buying the ticket ahead of time if I'm taking the bus, and it'll stop for tickets anyway?
Written 7 February 2019
Bus 661 from Moncloa interchange (Metro and Bus station) every 15-30 minutes from 0700 - 2330 (reduced schedule on weekends) at a cost of €2.50 each way. Last return is at 2230 and the journey time is no more than 1hr subject to traffic.
There is no requirement for a purchase of ticket prior to arrival. It doesn’t make your entry any quicker, unless you are going via a Coach Party where the entrance route differs for larger groups of tourists.
Just ensure you have your ID or Passport for entry. The site is very protective at the moment.
My advice is to purchase a full ticket for both the monument and the monastery. You get a small discount for both, and there are operators actually located at the bus station.
Written 8 February 2019
Sí, se pueden hacer sin problemas.
Written 7 October 2018
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